The UN Sustainable Development Goals present an ambitious global call to action to improve living conditions throughout the world. But it’s not sufficient for civil society alone to push toward the 17 goals. Businesses have particular opportunities and responsibilities in advancing the SDGs. It’s no longer a question of whether the private sector has[…]

Thousands of humanitarian enterprises are providing first-time access to vital technologies including solar light sets, clean cookstoves, and water filtration units through micro-enterprise programs all over the world. They can come in many forms such as micro-franchise and micro-consignment models. If you’re setting up a micro-enterprise or poverty alleviation program that provides products that can[…]

The Level Market has helped a wide variety of customers around the globe source supplies for their humanitarian programs. The following case studies illustrate just some of what The Level Market is capable of. Discover what companies like yours have to say about finding success with TLM! Lighting up emergency shelters While building its signature[…]

In this episode of 22Lightbulbs, we talk with EcoZoom founder Ben West. In 2011, Ben launched EcoZoom, a company that designs, manufactures and sells biomass cookstoves and solar products, primarily in developing countries. In 2015, Inc. 1000 named EcoZoom one of the fastest growing companies in the US. Ben opened offices in Mexico in 2011[…]

In this episode, we chat with Camille van Gestel, the co-founder of WakaWaka. (And we also talk Shakira). Camille brings 20 years of experience in product development and manufacturing to the company’s vision to create safe, sustainable solar power and lighting. He’s passionate about solving energy poverty. In 2013, Camille delivered a TEDx speech on his mission[…]

Lifeflo CEO Dan Normand discusses what simple and affordable oxygen means and how Lifeflo can save lives, especially infants. We discuss the importance of having oxygen in any emergency situation and Lifeflo’s goals to make this happen. Dan has 30 years of medical device experience with companies like GE Healthcare, Covidian, ThermoRespiratory Group,[…]

Women in developing nations lack basic health care and face life-debilitating and life-threatening health issues. When it comes to providing health, it’s important to plan for all areas of wellness, including women’s reproductive health. Interest in women’s health issues began to increase in 2000 when the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG) aimed to eliminate[…]

Andrew Byrnes discusses wireless electricity and the nexus between the humanitarian aid market and the outdoor industry. One is about survival and one is about privilege, but some of the design principles are the same. Stower designs and runs wireless electricity systems for individuals and homes, delivering reliable, economic, sustainable solutions to specific power needs[…]

What better way to use the power of technology than to create solutions that save lives. Technology is on the front lines of changing the way humanitarian organizations approach the needs of the poor, conflict-affected and the vulnerable. Disaster relief, agriculture and education programs are arguably more successful today because of the advancements of technology. Innovative[…]

In this episode, we speak to two powerhouses in the ready-to-use food industry from Edesia, Navyn Salem, and Maria Kasparian. Edesia is a unique organization that manufactures specialized ready-to-use foods (RUFs) that treat and prevent malnutrition in the world’s most vulnerable populations. Since its inception in 2010, Edesia has produced and shipped enough food to help transform the[…]

Millions of refugees around the world are looking for a safe place to stay – simply for a fighting chance to survive. War, protracted conflict, and extreme climate change are driving people from their homes at a rate not seen since World War II. We wanted to cut through some of the political rhetoric surrounding the[…]

Beth Kolko is the co-founder and CEO of Seattle-based company Shift Labs. The company creates simple and affordable medical devices, such as the Dripassist Infusion Rate Monitor, for rapidly growing healthcare systems, such as rural medical clinics, that are in rugged environments and lack infrastructure. Beth is an entrepreneur, researcher, and educator, who blends disciplinary[…]

Energy is one aspect of our quality of life that doesn’t get enough attention. It’s something that so many of us are fortunate enough to have 100% of the time, which means we often take it for granted. During a disaster, and in rural parts of the world where a crisis is ongoing, energy isn’t[…]

Where did the name 22Lightbulbs come from? The name 22Lightbulbs is derived from Chinese numerology where the number 22 serves as the destiny number of individuals who are builders and leaders. These builders and leaders are usually visionaries with their feet strongly grounded. They love world peace, are unconventional in actions and thought, are[…]

If you’re new to the process (or more appropriately, the ordeal) of international shipping, then you may not yet understand how vital a freight forwarder can be to making sure your humanitarian supplies get where they’re going on time and intact. To aid your process, we identified some things you should consider when choosing a[…]

We understand the conditions aid & development professionals work in. We’re all on our mobile devices! At TLM, we aim to make it easy for field workers and volunteers to find humanitarian supplies and compare, save and quote – all on mobile devices. Thanks to all your feedback, we’ve updated our mobile experience on The[…]

From BusinessDen _________________________________ In the middle of the 2015 Ebola outbreak, Stephanie Cox’s search for water filters was coming up dry. “I was making a lot of phone calls, Googling, calling the experts and no one really knew what to do,” said Cox, a 17-year veteran of the humanitarian aid industry who was trying to[…]

From Treehugger.com ___________________________ The Level Market wants to make the procurement of humanitarian aid and development products as easy as shopping on Amazon. By streamlining the research and pricing process for lifesaving and life-changing humanitarian aid products, The Level Market aims to not only make it easier for organizations to find the right products they[…]

From 33 Voices and the We Festival. Stephanie shares her inspiration to create The Level Market and how she validated the product before launching. Watch The Level Market founder, Stephanie Cox, explain her “ah-ha” moment.